We are so blessed in America with many liberties that most others throughout history have only dreamt of. When our founders framed our nation, they gave to us one of the most precious gifts imaginable and one that we take so much for granted. Although atrocities have and still do occur, most have not been committed by our government.
Imagine for a moment kissing your sweet six year old daughter goodbye with nearly complete certainty that you would never see her again. Your family had earlier been rounded up and forced to subsist inside a barbwire enclosure surrounded by fierce dogs and armed guards. Any escape attempt is met with immediate execution while starvation and disease kill those within. Surrendering your child to someone offering to smuggle her to safety is her only hope.
Such was reality in the Warsaw ghetto in the early 1940s. Although many are more familiar with Oskar Schindler and the ten Boom family, they were not alone in their valiant efforts to save Jews. In his book, The History of Christian Zionism, Michael David Evans tells of Irena Sendler who smuggled over 2,500 Jewish children out of a Warsaw ghetto. To do so, this Catholic social worker used false bottomed boxes, burlap sacks, and even coffins as well as a secret path through a church.
Once they were outside, each child received a new name and new parents. Only Irena kept a list to know who was really who. The Nazis eventually learned of her actions and imprisoned her. In a cruel attempt to extract the names of the children, the Gestapo even broke her feet and legs, but Irena remained unbroken.
During her prison time, she was forced to make clothing along with other women. In a bit of clever sabotage, they cut holes in the underwear. When that was discovered, they were lined up and every other one was shot dead. She was between two others who fell.
After the war, she retrieved the lists she had hidden in some jars and attempted to reunite the families. Although some were, many of the parents had long since perished in the ghetto or concentration camps. Nevertheless, their children were saved and empowered to live full lives, thanks to Irena. Instead of being proud of her work, however, she later wept that she did not save more. She became an honorary Israeli citizen in 1991 and in 2008 she died at the age of 98.
We can be thankful that the horrible oppression of Nazism is behind us but we must remain vigilant to keep it from raising its ugly head. Sadly, the volcano of Jewish hatred periodically erupts as anti-Semitic acts are still committed. These include the desecration of Jewish graves, vandalism of synagogues, and even murder of Jewish citizens.
After nearly 2000 years of exile, oppression, and holocaust, Jews came together to form the modern nation of Israel on May 14, 1948. Next Friday marks this miraculous rebirth in fulfillment of many promises God made to Abraham and his descendants. Even a brief review of how Israel was reborn will reveal God working in humanly impossible ways to bring it forth in a day (Isaiah 66:8).
Although some have used the Bible to excuse their prejudice, God’s Word is clear that He has always cherished this people and would eventually return them to their promised land. While discussing God’s dealings with the Jews, Paul wrote in Romans 11 that God’s gift and His call are irrevocable. America and Americans would be wise to remember that God’s promise to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him has also never been cancelled.
As we observe Israel’s 73rd birthday next week, let’s praise the God who made it happen and support Israel as our staunchest ally. Let’s also give thanks for men and women like Irena Sendler and vow that the evil actions like those of the Nazis will never again be perpetrated toward Jews or any other people, for Jesus died for all.
Happy Birthday Israel! George